How to increase the volume on the Xiaomi smartphone: from standard settings to hidden features

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi speakers are quieter than before? Or maybe the sound initially seemed too weak compared to other smartphones? Low volume is one of the most common complaints of Redmi, POCO and Mi users. The reasons can vary from banal settings to hardware limitations imposed by the manufacturer.

In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can increase sound, from standard menu settings to hidden engineering features and third-party utilities, and it's important to understand that some techniques can affect sound quality or even shorten the life of speakers if you use them thoughtlessly, so we'll not only give instructions, but also explain when and how to use them safely.

If you own a Xiaomi 12T, a Redmi Note 11, or a POCO F5, don't worry, most of the ways are universal. And for older devices like the Redmi 4X or Mi A2, we'll give you the nuances separately, and let's start with the simplest and move on to advanced techniques.

1. Checking basic sound settings

Before digging deeper, make sure the problem isn't in the obvious. Often users just don't notice that Do Not Disturb mode is activated or the media volume is down after the update.

  • ๐Ÿ”Š Multimedia and Call Volume: Press the physical volume button and make sure that the Multimedia slider (music, video) and Calls are raised to maximum!
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Do Not Disturb Mode: Swipe down the notification panel and check if the crescent icon is turned on. โ†’ Sound and vibration โ†’ Don't disturb.
  • ๐ŸŽต Equalizer and sound effects: In a player (such as Mi Music) a lower-frequency preset can be activated.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Reboot device: trivial but sometimes helps. Hold the power button for 10 seconds for forced reboot if the smartphone freezes.

If you've had this silent sound, move on to the next section, and if you notice that the problem only manifests itself in certain apps (like YouTube or Telegram), then the settings of the programs themselves may be to blame, which we'll talk about later.

๐Ÿ“Š Which speaker in your Xiaomi is quieter than others?
Main (lower)
Conversational (top)
Both equally quiet
I don't know.

2. Sound tuning via engineering menu (MTK/Qualcomm)

The Engineering Menu is a hidden settings section that allows you to finely adjust hardware settings, including audio amplification.The method works on most Xiaomi smartphones, but the menu interface differs depending on the processor: MediaTek (MTK) or Qualcomm Snapdragon.

โš ๏ธ Attention: Incorrect settings in the engineering menu can lead to distortion of sound or even damage to the speakers. +6 dB without needing!

For smartphones on MediaTek (Redmi 9, POCO M3, etc.):

  1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337###
  2. Go to Hardware Testing โ†’ Audio โ†’ LoudSpeaker Mode.
  3. Select Max Vol and set the value from 140 to 160 (standard - 128).
  4. Save the settings and restart the device.

For smartphones on Qualcomm Snapdragon (Xiaomi 11T, Redmi Note 10 Pro, etc.):

  1. Enter on the phone: ##4636##
  2. Select Information โ†’ Audio.
  3. Find Speaker Gain or Headset Gain options and increase the values by 2-4 dB.
  4. Go back and check the sound โ€“ if there are wheezing, reduce the amplification.

Record the current parameter values

Do not exceed +6 dB for speakers

Check the sound after each change.

Reboot the smartphone after settings-->

If the engineering menu doesnโ€™t open, your Xiaomi model may be blocking access to these codes, so try the alternative methods in the following sections.

3.Use of applications to amplify sound

If the standard settings and the engineering menu don't work, third-party apps will come to the rescue, and they work in different ways: some just turn up the volume programmatically (which can lead to distortion), others optimize the sound flow, and we tested several utilities and selected the most effective ones.

AnnexType of reinforcementPlusesCons
Volume BoosterSoftwareSimple interface, works without rootCan distort the sound at maximum
Equalizer FXEqualizer + amplifierFine frequency tuning, presetsRequires customization for a specific model
ViPER4AndroidHardware (requires root)Maximum quality, minimum distortionComplex installation, does not work on new Android
SoundAssistantAdvanced settingsVolume control by applicationNot all functions work on MIUI

For most users, we recommend starting with Equalizer FX, which allows you to not only amplify the sound, but also adjust it to your preferences. For example, if your Xiaomi has weak bass, you can raise low frequencies by 3-5 dB. But ViPER4Android, despite its power, is suitable only for advanced users with root rights.

๐Ÿ’ก

Before installing any sound amplifier, check it is compatible with your version of MIUI.Some apps conflict with the Xiaomi shell and cause crashes.

Cleaning of speakers from dust and debris

One of the most common causes of silent sound is pollution of speakers, and over time, dust, villi and even sweat accumulate in the grilles, leading to a muted sound, especially for models with a lower speaker (such as the Redmi Note 8 Pro or POCO X3), which is often stuffed in your pockets.

How to Clean Your Spells Safely:

  • ๐Ÿงน Soft brush: use a paint brush or a soft bristle toothbrush. Carefully run the speaker without pressing the grille.
  • ๐Ÿ’จ Compressed air: A spray of compressed air (such as cleaning keyboards) will help blow out dust. Hold the balloon vertically at a distance of 5 cm!
  • ๐ŸŽต Sound test: after cleaning, play back the test sound (for example, in Settings). โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Diagnostics โ†’ Sound test).
  • โŒ What not to do: Do not use needles, toothpicks or wet wipes - this will damage the membrane of the speaker.

If the sound hasn't improved after cleaning, maybe the problem is a hardware malfunction, like a speaker's contact has gone or a membrane has gone down, and then only a service center will help.

What to do if the speaker wheezes after cleaning?
If you have wheezing or distortion after cleaning, you probably have damaged the membrane. Try to return the factory sound settings in the engineering menu (see section 2) or contact the service. Self-repair of speakers is almost impossible without special equipment.

5. Sound adjustment for individual applications

Sometimes the problem of quiet sound is only for certain programs, like YouTube or TikTok, where the sound is barely audible, but Spotify is normal, because some apps have their own volume or limit settings.

How to solve the problem:

  • ๐ŸŽฌ YouTube: Go to the app settings โ†’ General. โ†’ Loud and make sure the slider is at maximum. Also turn off Volume Normalization.
  • ๐ŸŽต Music players: In Mi Music or Google Play Music, check the equalizer. Sometimes presets like "Speech" or "Classic" turn the overall volume down.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Games: in PUBG Mobile, Free Fire or Genshin Impact โ€“ there may be a separate regulator for effects and music.
  • ๐Ÿ“ž Messengers: in WhatsApp or Telegram, check if the sound for notifications in the chat settings is turned off.

If the application does not have its own volume controllers, but the sound in it is still quiet, try resetting its settings:

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Application Management.
  2. Find the right application and select Warehouse โ†’ Clear the data.
  3. โš ๏ธ Note: This will delete all stored data in the app (such as YouTube downloads or Spotify cache)!

6. Update firmware and reset settings

Sometimes the reason for the quiet sound lies in software bugs that Xiaomi fixes in new versions of MIUI. For example, in Redmi Note 9 after upgrading to MIUI 12.5, many users complained about the volume reduction of the speakers, in such cases, either a rollback to the previous version or installing the latest patch helps.

How to update firmware:

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ About the phone โ†’ System update.
  2. Click Check Updates and wait for the download.
  3. If an update is available, install it and restart the device.

If the update didnโ€™t help or it didnโ€™t, try resetting the sound settings to factory:

  1. Open Settings โ†’ System and device โ†’ Additional โ†’ Resetting.
  2. Choose Reset All Settings (not to be confused with Reset to Factory, which will delete all data!).
  3. After the reboot, check the sound โ€“ often this solves the problem.

๐Ÿ’ก

If the quiet sound came after the MIUI update, try rolling back to the previous version via Fastboot or contact Xiaomi for support.Some updates contain bugs that the manufacturer only fixes in the following patches.

7 Hardware solutions: when nothing helps

If you've tried all the software methods, but the sound is still quiet, it's probably hardware. Here are the most common malfunctions and their signs:

Problem.Signs.Decision
The speaker's contact is gone.The sound disappears when you press the bodyDisassembly and soldering of contacts
Membrane damageWheezing, distortion at any volumeReplacement of the speaker
Oxidation of connectorsThe sound comes and goes.Cleaning with alcohol or replacing the plume
Sound chip malfunctionThere is no sound in the speakers or headphones.Replacement of motherboard

โš ๏ธ Note: If you donโ€™t have experience in electronics repair, donโ€™t try to disassemble your smartphone yourself.Modern Xiaomis have brittle plumes and adhesive connections โ€“ one wrong step can lead to a complete failure of the device. Contact an authorized service center, especially if the warranty is still valid.

The cost of repairing speakers in Xiaomi varies from 800 to 2500 rubles depending on the model. For example, replacing the lower speaker in the Redmi Note 10 Pro will cost an average of 1200 rubles, and in Xiaomi 13 Pro - already 2000 rubles.

8.Alternative methods: Bluetooth speakers and headphones

If you can't turn up the volume on the smartphone, consider external solutions. Modern wireless speakers and headphones not only sound louder, but also offer better sound quality than built-in speakers.

Here are some proven options:

  • ๐Ÿ”Š Portable speakers: Xiaomi Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker (from 1500 rubles) or JBL Go 3 (from 2500 rubles.) easily connect via Bluetooth and give a powerful sound.
  • ๐ŸŽง Headphones: Wireless Redmi Buds 4 (from 2000 rubles) or wired KZ ZSN Pro X (from 1000 rubles) with good noise insulation.
  • ๐Ÿ“ป FM-Transmitter: Devices like Baseus FM Transmitter (from 800 rubles) allow you to broadcast sound from a smartphone to a car radio.
  • ๐Ÿ’ป External sound card: Creative Sound Blaster is suitable for music lovers X3 (from 5000 rubles., which improves the sound even through headphones.

If you listen to music or watch videos on the street, investing in a good headphone or speaker can be more profitable than trying to squeeze the most out of Xiaomiโ€™s built-in speakers.

๐Ÿ’ก

Wireless headphones with support for aptX or LDAC codecs (for example, Sony WH-1000XM4) will give not only volume, but also high-quality sound that will never be achieved from smartphone speakers.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's sound

๐Ÿ”Š Why After Updating MIUI sound became quiet?
This is a common problem โ€” newer versions of MIUI Xiaomi often put limits on maximum volume to protect speakers. Try: Reset the audio settings (see section 6). Reverse the previous version of MIUI via Fastboot. Use amplifiers (see section 3). If nothing helps, write in support of Xiaomi โ€” sometimes they release patches for such bugs.
๐Ÿ“ต The earphones sound normal, the speakers sound quiet?
This indicates a hardware problem with the speakers. Possible causes: Grille-clean speaker (clean up, as in section 4); Membrane or contact damage (repair needed); Firmware restriction (try the engineering menu, section 2); If the speaker is wheezing or cracking, it is likely that a replacement will be required.
๐ŸŽต Can you increase the volume of the microphone on Xiaomi?
Yes, but the ways are different from the speaker settings. To amplify the microphone: Use the engineering menu (codes in section 2) and find the Mic Gain settings. Install the Microphone Volume Booster app (not all models). Check if the microphone hole is covered with a cover or film. โš ๏ธ Increased sensitivity of microphone can cause noise in recordings!
๐Ÿ”‹ Does the increase in volume affect battery consumption?
Yes, but not much. Speakers consume little power compared to a screen or a processor. However: At maximum volume, battery consumption increases by 3-5%. Using Bluetooth headphones or speakers saves charge as the built-in speakers turn off. Amplifiers in the background can eat up to 10% of the charge per hour.
๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Can you replace the speaker on your own Xiaomi?
Theoretically, yes, but in practice, it's risky. Here's what you need to consider: Most models require a special tool (suction cup, mediator, tweezers). The plumes of the speakers in Xiaomi are very fragile, there is a high risk of breaking them. After replacing, you may need to calibrate through an engineering menu. If you are not sure about your skills, you better contact the service. The cost of replacing the speaker in the workshop is from 800 rubles.